Born in Bloomington, Indiana into a musical family, he began performing as a duo with his brother before going on to a successful solo career in country music. In 1956, Helms made his way to Nashville, Tennessee where he signed a recording contract with Decca Records. The following year would be filled with astonishing successes. Helms' first single in 1957 titled "Fraulein" went to No. 1 on the country music charts and made it into the Top 40 on the pop music charts. Later that same year he released "My Special Angel" that also went to No. 1 on the country charts and entered the Top 10 on Billboard magazines pop music charts, peaking at No. 7.
Released just a few days before Christmas of 1957, his song "Jingle Bell Rock" was a big hit but uniquely, it re-emerged four out of the next five years and sold so well that it repeated each time as a top hit and became a Christmas classic still played to this day.
Bobby Helms continued touring and recording for the next three decades. His pioneering contribution to the genre has been recognized by the Rockabilly Hall of Fame.
Helms spent most of his later years living just outside of Martinsville, Indiana, until the time of his death from emphysema and asthma in 1997.
What A Friend We Have In Jesus
Bobby Helms Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
All our sins and griefs to bear
What a privilege to carry
Everything to God in prayer
Oh, what peace we often forfeit
Oh, what needless pain we bear
All because we do not carry
Have we trials and temptations?
Is there trouble in anywhere?
We should never be discouraged
Take it to the Lord in prayer
Can we find a friend so faithful
Who will hold our sorrows bare?
Jesus knows our every weakness
Take it to the Lord in prayer
The song "What a Friend We Have in Jesus" by Bobby Helms is a testament to the power of faith and prayer. The lyrics speak to the idea that Jesus is not only a friend, but also a source of comfort and support in times of need, and that through prayer, we can ask for forgiveness, guidance, and strength to overcome the trials and tribulations of life. The song emphasizes the importance of taking everything to God in prayer and surrendering our burdens to Him, rather than trying to bear them alone.
The first verse talks about the privilege of being able to carry everything to God in prayer, and how Jesus is there to bear our sins and griefs. The second verse reminds us of the peace we often forfeit because we choose not to turn to God in prayer, and the needless pain we bear because of this. The third verse encourages us to take our trials and temptations to God, as we should never be discouraged or feel alone. The final verse celebrates the faithfulness of Jesus and how He knows our every weakness, and we can find comfort in confiding in Him through prayer.
Overall, "What a Friend We Have in Jesus" is a reminder of the power of faith, prayer, and the importance of surrendering our struggles to God. It can provide comfort, strength, and hope to those who listen to it.
Line by Line Meaning
What a friend we have in Jesus
Jesus is our true friend who never leaves us alone
All our sins and griefs to bear
He is willing to take away our sins and suffering by bearing them Himself
What a privilege to carry
It is an honor to be able to bring everything to God in prayer
Everything to God in prayer
We can bring anything and everything to God in prayer and trust Him to answer us
Oh, what peace we often forfeit
We give up our peace and rest because we don't trust God with our worries
Oh, what needless pain we bear
We carry unnecessary pain and burden because we don't take our problems to God
All because we do not carry
We suffer because we don't have faith in God to handle our problems
Everything to God in prayer
We can bring anything and everything to God in prayer and trust Him to answer us
Have we trials and temptations?
If we face challenges and are tempted, are we hopeless?
Is there trouble in anywhere?
Are there hardships or difficulties anywhere?
We should never be discouraged
We should not lose hope when faced with trouble, but trust in God's provision
Take it to the Lord in prayer
We must bring our troubles and concerns to the Lord in prayer and rely on Him
Can we find a friend so faithful
Is there any friend as loyal and dependable as Jesus?
Who will hold our sorrows bare?
Who can bear our sorrows and pain with us?
Jesus knows our every weakness
Jesus understands all our weaknesses and struggles
Take it to the Lord in prayer
We must bring our troubles and concerns to the Lord in prayer and rely on Him
Writer(s): Joseph M. Scrivener, Charles C. Converse, Joyce Eilers Bacak
Contributed by Nolan N. Suggest a correction in the comments below.